Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-19
WEss1NGToN SPRINGS, JERAULD COUNT

tON oPRlNGS, JERAULD COZ
dissatisfaction among the people Of this
county in regard to the way things are
being managed. The county is getting
badly in debt and has nothing to show
Tor it.. We, do not wish to criticise
harshly, as we are but a late conner in
the county, and are not acuuaninted
With all the county officials, and. have
not heard their Justification Of their
course. But it is said that the treasur-
er's books have never been examined
according to law, and that thereby the
bondsmen OF our absconding treasurer.
may lind a loop-hole through which to
get out of paying his deficiency. This
and the poorly managed Solomon case,
and the failure to publish, as raquiied
ny law, the treasurer's report, has given
occasion for dissatisfaction and uneasi-
ness. Then it is believed that thereis
a disposition Oh the part of some, TO
cover up all plumbers, and set down'pn
those who demand an explanation US
"kickers" and "serpents" SC. 1t is bit
fair that the Taxpayers should have "
clear and explicit statement of al
county funds, and If this was fairly and
honorably DONE. we believe a better
state OF feeling would exist" +:
What has been said in the Herald
from time to- time On this matter, its
readers will be able to remember, and
we will conclude by saying that every
thing seems to point to our county
board as the parties responsible for the
difficulty now at issue.
If Mi. Williams was already behind
in his first term of Office, the commits
sioners had no business to let him pro.
coed on his second term. Ignorance is
no excuse here. The commissioners
have all the means at their disposal to
properly informed atleast once every
six months on the exact financial stand.
ing of the county treasury.
AS regards the bondsmen of Mr.. Will
liams, we are informed that none of
them were required to justify to their
bond, which gives many, if they wish
to avail themselves of the opportunity,
good chance to stand the county off
on the liberal exemption law. But we
are informed further that the bonds.
men don't propose to do anything Of
the kind, but that they have united for
common fight against the county, if
any attempt is made to hold them on
their bond.
The rules of law are plain on these
matters, and in order to hold a surety
responsible, the plaintiff must in sur
rebuttal be able to show that he has used
every reasonable diligence on his part
and that the loss could not have been
avoided nor prevented by the use Of
such diligence, and that it could not be
charged to neglect Of duty on his owl
part. U4less the plaintiff is able to d
this, he loses his remedy on the surety
and must bear his loss himself, or such
share thereof as he makes himself thug
responsible for.
The county in this case does all Of Its
business through it's board Of commits
sioners, and the people are bound by
and responsible for the official acts OF
said board. IT the commissioners neg.
lect their duty the people have to stand
the consequences and may work out
their own remedy against these Officers,
either civilly or crlminally, as may suit
the case. N
After the disappearance Of our copn-
| ty treasurer the commissioners held a
lengthy investigation of the books of
his office, and at the July session they
all drew their pay for time spent in
making said examination, but nothing
was said in the published proceedings
in detail about the result thereof, and
all we know is the random report that
the loss is from 1890 to 5000 dollars
This report with the fact that the Treas
| urer is missing and his property has
been attached, Che summoning OF the
bondsmen and the appointment Of a
new county treasurer to transact the
business of the Office, these are the on
| ly pointers in the case that we are sure
of and from which we know that there
| is a hole in the sauce pan. =:
What is more needed than anything
| else at present, is a new county board,
one that will work this case up on it's
merits only, without being at hazard
themselves as to the final outcome;
having only the interests of the public
| and the dealing out of justice at heart
- without fear or favor.
And next time, when we are called
! to the polls to elect officers, let us keep
our eyes open, as unless we do so, we
have to open our pocket books.
ARRIVAL AT SARATOGA. :.
Wall, we descended from the cars and
went to the boardin' place provided
for us beforehand by the look out OF
friends. 1t wuZ good place, there
hain't no doubt Of that; good folks, good
fare and clean.